ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The seventh-ranked Navy rifle team (2-1, 1-0 GARC) hits the road for the first time this season as it will travel to Ohio for a pair of top-15 matchups. The Midshipmen take on No. 13 Akron (4-0, 0-0 GARC) on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and then heads to Columbus, Ohio for a non-conference contest against No. 10 Ohio State (0-4) on Sunday at 9 a.m. Saturday's match between Navy and Akron will be the second league contest for the Midshipmen and first for the Zips.
 
Navy started its conference slate last weekend at home against Memphis, where the Midshipmen rallied from a seven-point deficit after smallbore to edge the Tigers in a 4,664-4,662 decision. Navy used a 2,362 in air rifle to complete the comeback. The 2,362 in air rifle set a season-high and tied the program record, which was set last year in a tri-match against North Carolina State and Akron.
 
Torrance Kang led the charge in air rifle after tying her career-high in the discipline with a 594. The Midshipmen had three counting scores of at least 590 with Mark Amdahl and Gabriella Mayes each hitting 590 on the dot. Michael Zanti just missed the 590 threshold after firing a 588 to cap off Navy's 2,362. In smallbore, the Midshipmen did not break the 580 mark with Zanti posting a 579 to lead the team. With Kang finishing smallbore with a 573, Kang and Zanti each finished with team-highs of 1,167 points overall. Amdahl and Mayes also matched each other's scores in smallbore (575) to finish tied at 1,165. 
 
In Navy's first two events of the season, it has recorded matching scores of 4,664. The Midshipmen have had the same starting five for each of their two events and all five starters are averaging over 1,160 to start the year. Kang leads the way with an average of 1,165.0 and Mayes is right behind at 1,164.5. Zanti ranks third on the team with an average of 1,164.0 and senior captain Kestrel Kuhne has averaged 1,163.0 for the season. Amdahl rounds out the Navy starters with an average of 1,162.5.
 
Along with starting its conference schedule this weekend, Akron starts its home slate on Saturday after being on the road for the past two weekends. The Zips have yet to break the 4,660 mark this fall after firing a 4,651 at The X Count in Fort Wayne, Ind., and then recording a 4,640 against VMI and North Carolina State. Andre Gross has guided Akron this season with an aggregate average of 1,165.5 with Wyatt Openshaw just behind at 1,164.5.
 
Ohio State is also set to begin its home slate against the Midshipmen this weekend. The Buckeyes joined Akron at The X Count and finished third overall with a 4,635 to start their year. Then at two events in Alaska, Ohio State lost to Alaska Fairbanks, 4,660-4,658, followed by a 4,714-4,658 loss to TCU. Ariel Hall has been the top shooter for the Buckeyes this season with an aggregate average of 1,166.7. Rhiann Travis (1,161.7) and Annabelle Stanec (1,160.7) are the only other shooters for Ohio State with an average over 1,160.
 
All-time, Navy holds a record of 13-2 over Akron with the Zips earning one of their two wins in 2017. Against Ohio State, the Midshipmen have won three of the four all-time meetings. Sunday will be the first meeting between Navy and Ohio State since 1992.